Sliding door closer



Aug. 8, 1967 s. 1. HARGROVE SLIDING DOOR CLOSER Original Filed Dec.

4 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR. SANFORD L. HARGROVE ATTORN EY g- 1967 s. HARGROVE 3,334,444

SLIDING DOOR CLOSER Original Filed Dec. 4, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 40 74V "I I 28 2a Q 1 45 f v 24 Z24 5o 5o 2 44 FIG.5 .7 6 \J/ FIG. 6

A 34 32 FIG. 8

INVENTOR.

SANFORD L. HARGROVE ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1967 s. L HARGROVE SLIDING DOOR CLOSER 4 SheetsSheet 5 Original Filed Dec. 4, 1961 FIG. IO

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INVENTOR. SANFORD L. HARGROVE BY 44% W ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1967 .s. HARGROVE 3,334,444 SLIDING DOOR CLOSER Original Filed Dec. 4. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gig/12",

IN VEN 770R.

SANFORD L. HARGR-OVE ATTORNEY,

United States Patent 3,334,444 SLIDING DOOR CLOSER Sanford L. Hargrove, 922 N. Santa Fe, Wichita, Kans. 67214 Continuation of application Ser. No. 156,790, Dec. 4, 1961. This application Nov. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 592,952

2 Claims. (Cl. 49-404) This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 156,790,

filed Dec. 4, 1961, now abandoned.

This invention relates to closable objects. More spe cifically, my invention relates to slidably movable partitions, such as doors and the like. Still more specifically, my invention relates to sliding doors and to means of closing same. In yet a more specific aspect my invention relates to a means of automatically and controllably closing sliding doors after same have been manually opened.

Several devices are known in the prior art for automatically closing doors which have been opened. Some of these employ a dropping weight. However, all suffer from the disadvantage that they give a hard closing, i.e., a door so closed closes with a loud noise and with considerable force. These prior art devices have no satisfactory way of checking or cushioning the speed of the door before it strikes the door post or casing because they all consist essentially of only a means for exerting a continuous force, the result of which is that the door mass continues to accelerate until the moment that it strikes the door post or casing. The closers of the prior art are suitable only for fairly rugged doors such as fire doors, barn doors, and other heavy duty doors, but would be annoying and dangerous if installed in the usual sliding doors of a home or ofiice, or on cabinet doors, and the like.

The new sliding door closer means of my invention eliminates these disadvantages of the prior closing devices while retaining their usefulness with the aforesaid heavy duty doors as Well as doors which are desirably closed quietly and easily. My invention has, in addition to a device for exerting closing force, a means for causing an opposing force to be applied whose strength is dependent on the speed at which the door is traveling, and whose strength increases exponentially with that speed.

More specifically, my invention comprises, in preferred specific embodiments, a means of exerting force, such as a falling weight made of a suitable material for example a heavy material, such as iron, lead, and the like. If preferred, a helical spring can be used, preferably a spring acting in compression and having the characteristic that the force which it exerts decreases as the door approaches the closed position. My invention also preferably has a vertical cylinder and a piston, the piston and the above mentioned weight being the same part serving two purposes. The weight-piston in use is suitably connected, preferably by means of a cord and pulleys, to a door jamb or casing, or to a door, so that when the door to be automatically closed is opened, the weight-piston is raised in the cylinder. The pulley is preferably mounted in a cap with a shoulder to prevent the pulley from being drawn into the cylinder, the top of said cap preferably being flush with the top of the door. The axis of the pulley preferably has two pointed ends which extend beyond the walls of the cap. These pointed ends are driven into the wood so that the orientation of the pulley cannot change during use, making the closer means long reliable in use. A check valve is provided, preferably such as a flapper or a ball mounted over a hole extending from the bottom of the cylinder to the atmosphere with either the ball or the hole being preferably coated, as with plastic to prevent noise, and such valve is provided so that air can freely enter during opening. When the door is released, the weight falls, closing the door. The check valve is closed and the air is compressed as the weight falls, cushioning the fall of the weight.

The different preferred embodiments of my invention and modifications thereof illustrate different means of controllably releasing the air during the dropping of the weight. Other preferred modifications consist of a means for varying the weight of the piston and a pressure catch by means of which the door can be held open, if desired. As the weight drops it is gently slowed and cushioned by the compressed air, causing the door to close gently. In my invention, by different combinations of locations of the cylinder and the point to which the cord is attached, and by various pulley arrangements, I have found it possible to automatically close a sliding door adjacent to a door post, to close a middle door slidable in two directions, and to close, with one mechanism, either of two adjacent sliding doors. To perform the first type of closing, either the cylinder is located in the door and the cord anchored to the door post or, if the door is solid, the cylinder is located in the door post and the cord is anchored to the door, in each case, the cord passing over a pulley at the top of the cylinder. To perform the second type of closing, the cylinder is in the door and the cord is anchored to the lintel directly above the cylinder when the door is in its closed position. Two pulleys are mounted at the top of the cylinder, and the cord passes over one or the other as the door is slid to one side or the other. To perform the third type of closure, the cylinder is in one door, and the cord is anchored to the other door after being passed around a pulley mounted on the top of the one door. Thus, my invention has been found to be very versatile.

Various types of catches can be used to hold open the sliding doors employing my invention. Some preferred catches are illustrated in the specific embodiments and modifications described hereinafter.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new closing means.

It is another object of my invention. to provide new means for automatically closing slidable doors.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a means to automatically close sliding doors 'which had been previously opened, the closing taking place gently.

Still another object of this invention is to provide new means to close automatically and gently a single sliding door adjacent to a door post or casing, which had been previously opened.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide new means to close automatically and gently a middle sliding door slidable in two directions, which had been previously opened.

It is still another object of this invention to provide new means to close automatically and gently either or both of two adjacent sliding doors using only one of the mechanisms of my invention, either or both of the doors having been previously opened.

Yet another object of my invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art devices for closing doors, and to do so economically and efliciently.

Other objects and advantages of the new door closing means of my invention will be obvious or will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.

Drawings accompany and are a part of this disclosure. These drawings depict preferred specific embodiments of the new door closing means of my invention, and it is to be understood that such drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing the new closer of my invention mounted in a door and anchored to a door post or casing.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the closer and cord.

FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal section through the closer, with relatively wide clearance between the weight and the cylinder walls, with a check valve in the bottom, and showing how more weight can be added.

FIG. 4 is a section through the pulley mechanism, taken as indicated in FIG. 3 on line 44.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross section of a portion of a weight, showing how more weight can be added.

FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal section through the closer, with relatively narrow clearance between the weight and the cylinder walls, and with both a check valve and a needle valve in the bottom.

FIG. 7 is a section through a portion of a weight, showing an O-ring mounted thereon to prevent air passage around the weight.

FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal section through the closer, with a relatively small weight activated by a helical spring, a check valve in the bottom, and a needle valve through the weight.

FIG. 9 is an elevation view of sliding closet doors with the closers mounted in the door jambs.

FIG. 10 is a transverse section through the door jamb and door showing the pulley and a portion of cable or cord, taken along line 1010 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an elevation view of a sliding closet door consisting of three doors, with a closer mounted in the center of the center door.

FIG. 12 is a partial longitudinal section of the top portion of the closer tube to be used in the center door of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the three doors of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view showing the method of attaching one, closer to two sliding doors, and showing a spring loaded catch.

FIG. 15 is a partial transverse cross-section, showing an opened sliding door and an adjacent door post, the sliding door being held open by a pressure catch.

FIG. 16 is a transverse cross-section of a portion of the doors in FIG. 14, shown when being held open by the spring loaded catch.

Following is a discussion and description of the new door closing structure of my invention, made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structure. The discussion and description are of preferred specific embodiments of the new door closer structure of my invention, and it is to be understood that such is not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

FIGS. 1 through 8 illustrate a preferred specific embodiment of my pneumatic sliding door closer invention, with various modifications. This specific embodiment of my invention can conveniently be used on a hollow sliding door adjacent to a door post. The new door closing means of my invention has been found suitable for sliding closet doors, cabinet doors, entryway doors, inside doors in dwellings and other buildings, and the like. Typical sliding closet doors 20 are equipped to provide my new invention, and 22 indicates the adjacent door posts. A tube 24 is used, and it is preferably made of suitable non-permeable material, such as metal, for example, aluminum. At the top, tube 24 has a cap 26 with an overhanging flange or shoulder 28 to prevent it from slipping into the door wherein tube 24 is mounted. Cap 26 hasa slot 30. At the bottom, tube 24 has a plug 32 with a hole 34 therethrough. A pulley 36 is mounted in slot with its axis 38 perpendicular to the plane of door 20, the pulley being rotatably mounted in cap 26 and tube 24. This pulley can be made of any convenient ma terial such as wood, metal, plastic, and the like, preferably metal or nylon plastic. Cord 40 is fastened to door post 22 at position 42 in any suitable manner, such as with an eye (not shown) and slightly above the position of the top corner of sliding door 20 when closed. The cord 40 passes over pulley 36 and into tube 24. A suitable check valve is provided in the bottom of tube 24, and ball 44 together with hole 34 in plug 32 forms a check valve, which allows passage of air into tube 24 but not out. Either the valve seat of plug 32 or ball 44 or both can be made of plastic, hard rubber, etc., or coated with same to provide for a noiseless valve. And, as those skilled in the art will know, the valve operator 44 can be a guided means having a boss sliding in a vertical slot (not shown) in plug 32 to make certain the operator closes the hole when it should. Tubes 24 can be mounted in doors 20 in any suitable manner such as drilling a hole therein slightly larger in diameter than tube 24. Cap 26 is preferably countersunk in door 20 as shown, and with sharp pointed axle 38 for pulley 36 driven down into the door 26 to position pulley 36 stationarily to keep cord aligned on the track.

Two preferred specific embodiments of means for exerting downward force are illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8. FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show a large cylindrical weight 45. FIG. 8 shows a small cylindrical weight 46 and a helical compression spring 48. Spring 4-8 is suitably attached to the inside of tube 24 at the top and to weight 46, for example by welding.

Five preferred specific embodiments of means for controllably releasing air from tube 24 are illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8. FIG. 3, FIG. 5 and FIG. 2 show a relatively small clearance 50 between weight and the walls of tube 24. This clearance acts as a means of controllably releasing air as the weight drops. The diameter of weight 45 relative the diameter of tube 24 provides the annulus which is relatively small in cross section. The weight 45 is of length and mass and the annulus 50 is of cross section throughout and operating length to provide when weight 45 falls controlled release of air trapped thereunder through the annulus 50 to slowly close a door. FIG. 8 shows both a minute clearance 52 with the walls of tube 24, and a needle valve 54 controlling a valve passageway through weight 46, which together controllably release air as weight 24 drops. Needle valve 54 has the advantage that the flow of air can be regulated by opening, closing and otherwise regulating the valve. FIG. 6 shows both a minute clearance 52 and a needle valve 56 passing through plug 32 which together controllably release air. FIG. 7 shows an O-ring 58, completely blocking air passage around weight 45 in use, and which can be used either with a needle valve 54 passing through the weight or with needle valve 56 passing through the plug 32.

With any or all of the above modifications, the means for varying the weight of the weight, shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, can be used. In FIG. 5, 60 is an axially threaded hole extending partially up from the bottom of weight 45. Another weight 62, having a threaded protrusion 64, is screwably attached to weight 45 to add additional weight. Weight 62 can have a threaded hole 66, and so on. In FIG. 3, 61 is an axial non-threaded hole extending partially up from the bottom of weight 45. 63 is another weight having a non-threaded protrusion 65. Weights 45 and 63 are attached by inserting a pin 69 through transverse aligned apertures disposed in weight 45 and protrusion 65.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another preferred specific embodiment of my invention designed for use with solid doors into which a tube and weight cannot be easily inserted. It is similar in all respects to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, except that the closer tube 70 is located in the door post 22, and the cord 72 is attached or anchored to solid sliding door 21. Any of the several downward force exerting modifications, controllable air release means modifications, and/ or the weight varying modification set forth hereinbefore relative the embodiments of FIGS. 1-8 can be applied to the specific embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate another preferred specific embodiment of my invention, showing how it can be used with a centrally mounted sliding door, so as to close that door from either direction that it is opened. This is preferably done by a modified pulley arrangement. The tube 24 is located approximately in the center of door 76. Cap 78 is similar to cap 26 except that it has a slot 80 which is larger than slot 30. Two identical pulleys 82 and 84 are provided with axes 86 and 88, respectively, perpendicular to the plane of door 76, and located in slot 80, the rims of one pulley almost contacting the rims of the other. Cord 90 is also provided, such being similar to cord 72 and cord 40 supra, except that cord 90 passes between pulleys 82 and '84 and is fastened to lintel 92 by any suitable means such as eye 93. Any of the several preferred embodiments listed for the prior embodiments supra can also be used with this embodiment, that is, weighting, valving, etc.

FIG. 14 illustrates a preferred specific embodiment of my invention whereby either or both of two adjacent Sliding doors can be closed, using only one of the new devices of my invention. Tube 24 and pulley 36 are similar in all respects to tube 24 and pulley 36 of FIGS. 1 through 8. A pulley 94 having a vertical axis 96 is mounted on the top side of door 22 at the end furthest from tube 24. A vertical extension or lip 98 is provided on the door 100 adjacent to door 24. Cord 102 is fastened to extension 98 thence around pulley 96, over pulley 36, and into tube 24. A spring-loaded catch, more fully illustrated in FIG. 16, is shown. Any of the several preferred weighting and valving embodiments indicated for the first three embodiments supra can also be used with this embodiment.

FIG. 15 illustrates a preferred pressure catch which can be used with any of the specific embodiments and modifications of my invention. Sliding door 20 is in its open position adjacent door post 104. Spring catch 106 is attached to door post 104 and preferably consists of a strip of spring metal, shaped as shown. Protrusion 108 is fastened to door 20, and has two rollers, each with vertical axes. Slight application of pressure forces the two rollers in between the springs which then hold the rollers. A slight pressure releases the rollers from the spring, allowing the door to close.

FIG. 6 illustrates another pressure catch which can be used with any of the specific embodiments and modifications of my invention. It has the advantage of simplicity, that is, only one part. Positioned as shown, it does not interfere with casual opening and closing, but when either door 20 or door 100 is deliberately opened completely, the catch 110 will hold it open. Catch 110 is preferably a strip of spring metal bent as shown to exert holding pressure when between doors 20 and 100.

For all of the preferred specific embodiments, the sliding door closer works as follows. When door 20 (or 100) is opened, weight 45 (or weight 46 and spring 48) are raised, and air enters through hole 34 around ball 44. When the door is released, weight 45 (or weight 46 and spring 48) drops, compressing the air beneath it, which forces ball 44 on top of hole 34, closing it. Spring 48 in compression forces weight 46 downwardly. The compressed air cushions the fall of the weight and thus the closing of the door. Air is released either through clearance 50 around the weight, through minute clearance 52 and needle valve 54, through minute clearance 52 and needle valve 56, or, if O-ring 58 is used, through needle valve 54 or 56. The valves 54 and 56 are adjusted to vary air flow, and thus control the rate of door closing. When desired the force exerted by the weight is varied by adding or removing weights 62 or 63.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, various changes and modifications of these preferred specific embodiments of the sliding door closer of my invention disclosed herein can be made or followed without departing 6 from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Automatic pneumatic closer means for two cooperating sliding doors comprising, an imperforate tube housing vertically mountable on one of two adjacent sliding doors, mounting means to stationarily and vertically mount said tube on said sliding door, a pulley mounted in the top of said vertical tube and mountable on said door with the axis of said pulley transverse the planes of said doors, the wheel of said pulley being partially inside said tube, another pulley mountable with its axis vertical on the top edge at the near edge of said one of said two adjacent doors, attachment means mountable on the near edge of the other of said two adjacent doors, a line one end of which is fastenable to said attachment means, said line when mounted passing around said last-named pulley, and over said first-named pulley, the other end of said line passing down into said tube, a means for exerting downward force comprising, an elongated cylindrical weight slidably mounted in said tube and which is secured to said other end of said line, a check valve mounted in the bottom portion of said tube providing when open communication between the bottom portion of said tube inside and the atmosphere, said weight having a diameter relative the diameter of said housing providing a relatively small annulus in cross section therebetween, said weight being of length and mass and asid annulus being of cross ection throughout and operating length thereby providing sole means of controllably releasing air located to release air contained between the bottom of said means for exerting downward force and the walls and bottom of said tube, said means of controllably releasing air comprising a relatively small annulus between said weight and the walls of said tube, either or both of said sliding doors being openable manually, causing when mounted said means for exerting downward force to be raised, said check valve allowing air to enter between the bottom and sides of said tube and said cylindrical weight, and either or both of said sliding doors being automatically closed when released by said means for exerting a downward force, such closing being controllable by compressed air contained between the bottom of said means for exerting downward force and the walls and bottom of said tube, said air being slowly released by said means of controllably releasing air.

2. Automatic pneumatic closer means for two cooperating sliding doors comprising, a tubular housing vertically mountable on one of two slidably mounted doors, mounting means to mount said tubular housing on said sliding door, a guide means in the top portion of said tubular housing mountable on said door with the plane of said guide means substantially parallel the plane of the door on which same is mounted, a portion of said guide means being inside said tubular housing and a portion being thereout, another guide means mountable with the plane thereof substantially parallel to the plane of the top edge of said door at the near edge of said one of said slidably mounted doors, attachment means mountable on the near edge of the other of said two slidably mounted doors, a line one end of which is fastenable to said attachment means, said line when mounted passing around said lastnamed guide means and over said first-named guide means, the other end of said line passing down into said tubular housing, a means for exerting downward force comprising, a weight slidably mounted in said tubular housing and which is secured to said other end of said line, a check valve mounted in a lower portion of said tubular housing providing when open communication between the lower portion of said tubular housing inside and the atmosphere thercaround, said weight having distances thereacross relative the corresponding inside distances across said tubular housing providing a relatively small annulus in cnoss section therebetween, said weight being of length and mass and said annulus being of cross section throughout and operating length thereby providing sole means of controllably releasing air contained between the bottom of said means for exerting downward force and the walls of said tubular housing and said check valve, said means of controllably releasing air comprising a relatively small annulus between said weight and the walls of said tubular housing, either or both of said slidably mounted doors being openable manually causing when mounted said means for exerting downward force to be raised, said check valve allowing air to enter said tubular housing below said weight, and either or both of said slidably mounted doors being automatically closed when released by said means for exerting a downward force such closing being controlled by compressed air inside said tubular housing below said weight, said compressed air being slowly released by said means of controllably releasing air.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 617,159 1/1899 Hogan et al 268-69 X 1,272,160 7/1918 Weiss 268-56 X 1,467,826 9/1923 Bumbarger 268-54 X 1,799,872 4/1931 Seipel 188-97 1,860,333 5/1932 Dunn 16-49 X 2,098,776 11/1937 Edwards 188-966 2,735,675 2/1956 Lindsey 26 8-69 2,783,040 2/1957 Felker 268-123 2,881,870 4/1959 Thumim 188-966 2,953,811 9/1960 Hall 16-66 3,102,582 9/1963 Rudnick 160-206 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

J. K. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

2. AUTOMATIC PNEUMATIC CLOSER MEANS FOR TWO COOPERATING SLIDING DOORS COMPRISING, A TUBULAR HOUSING VERTICALLY MOUNTABLE ON ONE OF TWO SLIDABLY MOUTED DOORS, MOUNTING MEANS TO MOUNT SAID TUBULAR HOUSING ON SAID SLIDING DOOR, A GUIDE MEANS IN THE TOP PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR HOUSING MOUNTABLE ON SAID DOOR WITH THE PLANE OF SAID GUIDE MEANS SUBSTIANTIALLY PARALLEL THE PLANE OF THE DOOR ON WHICH SAME IS MOUNTED, A PORTION OF SAID GUIDE MEANS BEING INSIDE SAID TUBULAR HOUSING AND A PORTION BEING THEREOUT, ANOTHER GUIDE MEANS MOUNTABLE WITH THE PLANE THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE TOP EDGE OF SAID DOOR AT THE NEAR EDGE OF SAID ONE OF SAID SLIDABLY MOUNTED DOORS, ATTACHMENT MEANS MOUNTABLE ON THE NEAR EDGE OF THE OTHER OF SAID TWO SLIDABLY MOUNTED DOORS, A LINE ONE END OF WHICH IS FASTENABLE TO SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS, SAID LINE WHEN MOUNTED PASSING AROUND SAID LASTNAMED GUIDE MEANS AND OVER SAID FIRST-NAMED GUIDE MEANS, THE OTHER END OF SAID LINE PASSING DOWN INTO SAID TUBULAR HOUSING, A MEANS FOR EXERTING DOWNWARD FORCE COMPRISING, A WEIGHT SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID TUBULAR HOUSING AND WHICH IS SECURED TO SAID OTHER END OF SAID LINE, A CHECK VALVE MOUNTED IN A LOWER PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR HOUSING PROVIDING WHEN OPEN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR HOUSING INSIDE AND THE ATMOSPHERE THEREAROUND, SAID WEIGHT HAVING DISTANCES THEREACROSS RELATIVE THE CORRESPONDING INSIDE DISTANCES ACROSS SAID TUBULAR HOUSING PROVIDING A RELATIVELY SMALL ANNULUS IN CROSS SECTION THEREBETWEEN, SAID WEIGHT BEING OF LENGTH AND MASS AND SAID ANNULUS BEING OF CROSS SECTION THROUGHOUT AND OPERATING LENGTH THEREBY PROVIDING SOLE MEANS OF CONTROLLABLY RELEASING AIR CONTAINED BETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF SAID MEANS FOR EXERTING DOWNWARD FORCE AND THE WALLS OF SAID TUBULAR HOUSING AND SAID CHECK VALVE, SAID MEANS OF CONTROLLABLY RELEASING AIR COMPRISING A RELATIVELY SMALL ANNULUS BETWEEN SAID WEIGHT AND THE WALLS OF SAID TUBULAR HOUSING, EITHER OR BOTH OF SAID SLIDABLY MOUNTED DOORS BEING OPENABLY MANUALLY CAUSING WHEN MOUNTED SAID MEANS FOR EXERTING DOWNWARD FORCE TO BE RAISED, SAID CHECK VALVE ALLOWING AIR TO ENTER SAID TUBULAR HOUSING BELOW SAID WEIGHT, AND EITHER OR BOTH OF SAID SLIDABLY MOUNTED DOORS BEING AUTOMATICALLY CLOSED WHEN RELEASED BY SAID MEANS FOR EXERTING A DOWNWARD FORCE SUCH CLOSING BEING CONTROLLED BY COMPRESSED AIR INSIDE SAID TUBULAR HOUSING BELOW SAID WEIGHT, SAID COMPRESSED AIR BEING SLOWLY RELEASED BY SAID MEANS OF CONTROLLABLY RELEASING AIR. 